As time goes on, you may notice more and more organic vegetables in the grocery store aisles. The demands for organic food products has steadily increased over the years. In fact, there was a growth of 11% in just one year in 2015, even though the previous year saw a record level of organic food products being sold on the market.

One thing that may be holding you back from purchasing organic food is the expense. A look down any grocery store aisle can tell you that organic food is typically a bit higher in cost than non-organic food. Fortunately, you don't have to purchase organic vegetables at the grocery store. If you have some land, you can grow your own vegetables. However, there are a few important things you need to understand about the efficacy of organic vegetables. Keep reading for more info.

Organic Fertilizer

In order for your vegetables to be entirely organic, you will need to use organic fertilizer. Fertilizers come in varying strengths and are made in various formulations specifically for soil health and composition. Therefore, have your soil tested to see exactly what type of organic fertilizer will work best in your garden for the healthiest, most robust vegetables. These tests can be obtained through the  Farm Service Agency. 

No Treated Lumber

Treated lumber should be completely avoided in and around your organic vegetable garden, particularly for fencing materials. If you need to build a fence to surround your garden, choose lumber that has not been treated. If you will use anything made of wood in your garden, such as a wheelbarrow, it also should be made of lumber that is not treated. 

Irrigation System 

In order to help the vegetables grow, you can either rely on Mother Nature or install an irrigation system. But, since Mother Nature can be finicky at times, it's a good idea to go the route of an irrigation system. There are several types of irrigation systems available, such as drip, center-pivot, manual, and surface irrigation. Consult with an irrigation system specialist to help you determine which system is right for your garden and property. 

Depending on the quality of the soil and the type of organic fertilizer you use, you can add specific nutrients to the water that will be used by the irrigation system. The printout of the test results from the Farm Service Agency will be helpful in making this determination. You can show the test results to the irrigation system specialist for more advice. 

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